Divine Inspiration: Approaching God in the Artist's Craft

Artists engage with God uniquely, and so need unique spaces for refreshment and retreat.

You are invited to the second annual Rocky Mountain Artists' Retreat, where for a day artists and art-lovers will explore the way the church has used the imagination to enrich our approach to God for centuries. Local clergy and artists will help guide us through spiritual practices and reflect on spiritual truths. With room to roam and walk through the beautiful Colorado landscape at the retreat center, we will encourage artists to take time to simply be, whether that be sketching in a cozy arm chair, or walking the nearby prayer labyrinth. From refreshing ways to approach Scripture, to time to reflect and create, this day will help us use our imaginations to engage with God in new ways, freeing ourselves to creatively love and be loved by Him.

This is not a workshop where artists will be left with a list of ways to improve, but rather an invitation for people to receive and reflect on the many ways God imaginatively loves us and hopes to use our imaginations as a space to bring us closer to Him.

Basic Information

In this, our second year operating this retreat, we will meet at the Franciscan Retreat Center on the west side of town, which affords a larger campus and quiet fields and woods in which to walk and contemplate.

I HAVE SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS. CAN YOU ACCOMMODATE THEM?

There will be gluten free options, as well as dairy free and vegan if requested. (In most cases these will be limited to people who actually requested them in their registration.)

I'M COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN. WHAT HOTELS DO YOU RECOMMEND?

Drury Inn and Suites and Fairfield Inn and Suites are both within a couple miles and right off the freeway (Drury is brand-new and nicer but a couple minutes further away). If you're looking for more of the mountain getaway experience, we highly recommend the Cliff House in Manitou Springs (call 719-685-3000 and give them rate code ANSELM for a discount).

WHAT IS THE CANCELLATION POLICY?

You may cancel your registration for a full refund up to 7 days before the event. (Email us at anselmsociety@gmail.com.) After that, we can't promise anything unless we can successfully transfer your ticket to someone on the waitlist.

I'M AN INTROVERT, SO I SHOULD PROBABLY TALK MYSELF OUT OF GOING BECAUSE IT'S LESS DAUNTING, RIGHT?

This is a retreat, not a conference. Numbers will be manageable, and there will be a lot of opportunity for reflection and quiet. Don't worry!

SEE A QUESTION WE HAVEN'T ANSWERED?

Feedback from last year:

"God met me in a place of deep need."

"That was truly life-changing for me! I’m going to be thinking on that for a very long time. I felt a new infusion of encouragement and a new strength and resolve to follow through with some of the things that God has told me to do."

"So precious and powerful."

"It made me realize again that the 'office' of the artist is something for me to take seriously and joyfully."

"The gift God has given me to create art is both an opportunity and a responsibility. I am even more inspired to continue to 'stay the course' in pursuing my art to glorify God. I'm inspired by the Anselm Society as a whole pursuing the mission to revive the arts in the Church."

Sponsorships

We are happy to publicly recognize gifts of $200 or more made in support of the retreat (including being listed on this page and at the event, and a social media shoutout of your choice). For gifts of $500 or more, we'll also give you a code good for member ticket pricing for up to 10 artists from your church.

Member Churches

Images on this website that are not public domain stock images are copyright (c) Lancia Smith or Richard Seldomridge. Both are wonderful photographers and we highly recommend them for your next portrait session or event.